Policy & Compliance Guide

WA energy policy 2026

The framework that governs every new solar and battery install in Western Australia, in force since 1 May 2026. Three concurrent changes — federal, network, and retailer — all activated on the same day. This page explains how they fit together.

Last verified: 2026-01-31. Source data: data/wa-policy.json.

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70¢/kWh

Synergy Battery Rewards activation credit

6.8×

Federal STC factor (May–Dec 2026)

1.5 / 5 / dyn

Tier 0 / 1 / 2 export caps (kW)

The three concurrent changes

1. Federal STC tapers (cheaper home batteries program)

Capacity-based deeming. The first 14 kWh of usable capacity earn full STC entitlement; 14–28 kWh earns 60%; 28–50 kWh earns 15%. Above 50 kWh: nothing.

5–14 kWh: 100%

14–28 kWh: 60%

28–50 kWh: 15%

STC factor: 8.4× (Jan–Apr 2026) → 6.8× (May–Dec 2026). Step-down continues every January through 2030 when the program ends. STC price: $39.9/STC.

2. WA WEM network rules (nepc_2025_02)

Western Power's technical procedure for small-user connections. Aggregate cap of 30 kVA below 1000 V. Single-phase inverters capped at 10 kVA. ESM mandatory for systems ≤5 kVA. Inverters must comply with AS/NZS 4777.2 (Australia B region) and the gateway/comms layer with SA HB 218:2023 (CSIP-AUS).

Customer tiers

Tier 0 — Fixed export: 1.5 kW. No internet required. Not eligible for DEBS / VPP / Battery Rewards.
Tier 1 — ESM participant: 5 kW. Internet + emergency-only remote management. Eligible for DEBS.
Tier 2 — VPP participant: dynamic export. Full remote control + 95% availability target. Eligible for everything.

Battery charging restrictions: no grid charging 18:00–21:00, no discharging 10:00–15:00. Phase imbalance ≤5 kVA across phases.

3. Synergy battery rewards (VPP)

70¢/kWh activation credit during dispatch events. Up to 30 events × 6 hours per year (≈2.5 hours average). Two-year contract, 95% availability target. Linked to the WA Residential Battery Scheme — opting into the rebate also opts into Battery Rewards.

WA Residential Battery Scheme

State-level rebate that stacks with federal STCs for Synergy network (SWIS) customers:

Synergy customers: $130/kWhup to $1300 (10 kWh cap)

Combined federal + state on a 10 kWh battery: up to $4,013. No-interest loan also available up to $10,000 with a $210,000 income cap. Min capacity: 5 kWh. VPP + Battery Rewards opt-in is a precondition.

AC-coupled vs DC-coupled — and why a gateway matters

If you already have a non-hybrid solar inverter and want to add a battery, you have three options. The gateway requirement is the key compliance pivot.

Add an AC-coupled battery + SSL gateway. Cheapest route. Gateway must be on Synergy Supported Solutions List and support both your existing inverter and the new battery. Without the gateway you default to Tier 0 (1.5 kW fixed export) and lose VPP / state rebate eligibility.
Add a second hybrid inverter alongside. Useful if you want more solar capacity at the same time.
Replace the inverter with a hybrid + DC-coupled battery. Most efficient long-term but costs more upfront. Best if the existing inverter is near end of warranty.

Sungrow and Fronius support shared monitoring across paired inverters, which can satisfy whole-of-site compliance without a separate gateway.

Installer compliance checklist

SAA accreditation required for new installs (the previous CEC accreditation pathway transitioned to SAA earlier in 2026).
Pre-install: Western Power approval, DES (Distributed Energy Resources Application), site internet verification, existing-DER assessment.
Equipment: inverter on Australia B region of AS/NZS 4777.2, battery + gateway on Synergy SSL, export-monitoring device.
Commissioning: register with utility server, default 1.5 kW export at handover (lifted on tier confirmation), test-tool verification.
Post-install: 21-day monitoring period. Non-compliance triggers a reduced export limit.

What if my system was installed before 1 May 2026?

Existing systems are grandfathered. No changes are required as long as you don't alter the installation.

Warranty replacements are exempt if like-for-like. Upgrading or extending the system pulls the whole site into the new framework, including export limits, equipment standards, and commissioning steps.

Primary sources

https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/energy-policy-wa/new-requirements-solar-and-batteries-information-installers-and-retailers

https://www.westernpower.com.au/about/community/community-consultation/

https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/energy-policy-wa/emergency-solar-management

https://www.energy.gov.au/rebates/cheaper-home-batteries-program

https://www.synergy.net.au/Your-home/Solar-battery-and-EV/Battery-Rewards

https://www.csipaus.org/about